During the Michigan Democratic Party Nominating Convention, a land acknowledgment attempt went awry. Portia Roberson, the vice chair of the state’s party, began the acknowledgment by recognizing Michigan as the ancestral land of the Anishinaabe, Three Fires Confederacy. However, she mispronounced ‘Anishinaabe,’ prompting audience corrections. Roberson then asked an audience member to assist her by pronouncing it correctly.
Roberson resumed her speech, naming tribes including the Odawa, Ottawa, Ojibwe, Chippewa, and Potawatomi, but again mispronounced the last tribe, leading to more corrections. She admitted rushing through without rehearsal, ending with an apology before leaving the stage. The Democratic Party of Michigan did not respond to requests for comments on the incident.
The event was held in Lansing, where Michigan’s Democratic nominees for statewide office presented themselves. A notable attendance included Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Senate candidate focused on economic issues and healthcare. Other main figures such as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist drew attention. Brinks criticized Rep. John James, while Gilchrist emphasized voter data protection from federal access.
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